Ranking College Basketball's 16 Super Sophs for 2012-13

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Not all of college basketball's good freshmen from last season left school.

The following is a quick look at 16 of the top rising sophomores.

Many of these players could have been a first-round pick in the 2012.

Instead, they decided to return to campus and play at least one more season.

 

Let's go!

16. Khem Birch (UNLV)

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If Khem Birch plays up to his potential in his sophomore season, he could be one of the best bigs in the West.

After a less-than-smooth start to his collegiate career at Pitt, the 6'9" former McDonald's All-American transferred to UNLV, where he will play alongside Mike Moser in the Rebels frontcourt.

In limited duty (15 minutes per game for 10 games) for the Panthers, Birch averaged 4.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 1.9 bpg.

15. Adonis Thomas (Memphis)

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Adonis Thomas returns to Memphis with something to prove.

Because Thomas' freshman season was cut short because of injury, the 6'6" SF will look to show the college basketball world how good he really is.

In 19 games, he averaged 8.8 ppg and 3.2 rpg

Thomas is an exceptional athlete who can shoot the lights out (40.5 percent from three-point range).

Tigers' head coach Josh Pastner won't miss Will Barton (who entered the NBA draft) nearly as much if Thomas comes back at full strength.

14. Jarnell Stokes (Tennessee)

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Jarnell Stokes is a unique player.

Rather than wait to begin his collegiate career at Tennessee this coming year, Stokes graduated at mid-term and played in 17 games in the 2011-12 season.

The 6'8", 250-pound PF made full use of the half-season by scoring 9.6 ppg and pulling down 7.4 rpg on his way to being named to the 2012 SEC All-Freshman Team.

With a complete offseason in the program, the Vols are expecting big things from Stokes in 2012-13.

13. Myck Kabongo (Texas)

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Myck Kabongo made a lot of Longhorn fans (and UT head coach Rick Barnes) very happy when he announced that he would be returning to Austin for his sophomore season.

Kabongo ran the point well (9.8 ppg; 3.0 rpg; 5.3 apg) for a ridiculously young Texas team.

Look for the 6'1" guard to blow up in 2012-13.

12. Ryan Boatright (UConn)

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After Ryan Boatright got his off-the-court eligibility issues settled, the dynamic guard from Aurora, Ill. took care of things on the court.

The 6'0" guard delivered scoring punch and solid playmaking to the Huskies, who seemed to struggle with who was supposed to be doing what this past season.

Boatright averaged 10.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 4.1 apg in his first year in Storrs.

Look for even more offensive fireworks from this electrifying player during 2012-13.

11. Otto Porter (Georgetown)

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Otto Porter has the kind of old-school game that almost any coach loves.

Porter efficiently scored 9.7 ppg while only taking seven shots per game (shooting 52.5 percent from the field).

The 6'8" forward led the Hoyas in rebounding (6.7 rpg) and was second on the team in steals.

You may not see Porter in a non-stop loop of SportsCenter highlights, but he could be one of the best in the Big East in 2012-13.

10. LeBryan Nash (Oklahoma State)

LeBryan Nash came up big for Oklahoma State in 2011-12.

Nash was the top Big 12 freshman scorer (13.3 ppg) and rebounder (5.0 rpg) on his way to becoming the first Cowboy to be named the league's Freshman of the Year.

While he is more than capable of setting up and operating on the block, Nash has the potential of being one of the best SFs in the nation in the upcoming season.

9. Chane Behanan (Louisville)

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During Louisville's NCAA tournament run to the Final Four, Chane Behanan gave UL head coach Rick Pitino and the Cardinal fans a preview of what could be a scintillating sophomore season.

The 6'6", 250-pound forward averaged 13 points (shooting 60 percent from the field) and eight rebounds over the five games he played in his first March Madness experience.

If Behanan and his teammates elevate their games both individually and collectively, Louisville could be cutting down the nets in Atlanta this coming year.

8. Kevin Pangos (Gonzaga)

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Not many people knew much about Kevin Pangos going into his freshman season at Gonzaga.

Pangos took care of that early in first year playing for the Zags by putting up 33 points (on 9-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc) in his second collegiate game against Washington State.

The 6'1" guard from Newmarket, Ontario ended up being the Bulldogs' leading scorer (13.8 ppg) and assist man (3.4 apg).

The sky is the limit for Pangos and the Bulldogs in '12-13.

7. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Georgia)

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With all of the national hoopla over Kentucky's amazing 2011-12 freshman class, many people outside the SEC didn't know much about Georgia's multi-talented wing, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

The 6'4" guard led the Bulldogs in rebounding (5.2 rpg) and steals (1.8 spg) and was Mark Fox's second-leading scorer (13.2 ppg).

If KCP keeps all of this production up during his sophomore season, it will be hard for him to fly under the radar in '12-13.

6. James Michael McAdoo (UNC)

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James Michael McAdoo spent most of the 2011-12 season backing up the Tar Heels' outstanding frontcourt duo of John Henson and Tyler Zeller.

This coming season, McAdoo will be expected to be the anchor of Roy Williams' revamped UNC lineup after losing four starters to the NBA draft.

McAdoo averaged a modest 6.4 ppg and 3.9 rpg off the bench, but he showed what he is capable of doing (averaged 11 points and seven boards in UNC's last seven games) this coming year when he temporarily filled in for Henson late in the season because of injury.

5. B.J. Young (Arkansas)

B.J. Young was Arkansas' leading scorer as a freshman, averaging 15.3 points per game for the 18-14 Hogs.

He shot better than 50 percent and led all freshmen in the SEC in scoring.

After being named to the All-Southeastern Conference freshman first team and All-SEC second team, many of the Razorback nation thought that the talented guard was long-gone for the NBA.

But Young will return to Fayetteville for what could be a monster sophomore season.

4. Tony Mitchell (North Texas)

Tony Mitchell may be one of the best players in the sophomore class that you don't know much about.

The 6'8" forward started his collegiate career at Missouri before he transferred to Sun Belt conference-member North Texas.

Mitchell led the Mean Green in scoring (14.7 ppg), rebounding (10.3 rpg) and blocks (3.0 bpg).

Look for Mitchell and North Texas to surprise a few people next March.

3. D'Angelo Harrison (St. John's)

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D'Angelo Harrison is a fierce competitor and a skilled backcourt player.

The 6'3", 200-pound SG put up 16.8 ppg, grabbed 3.9 rpg and dished out 2.0 apg.

Harrison, selected for the Big East All-Rookie team, scored 20 points or more in 12 of the Johnnies' games in 2011-12.

Harrison could be the best guard in the conference this coming year.

2. Trey Burke (Michigan)

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Trey Burke didn't come to Ann Arbor as the highest-rated guard in the country, but Burke totally took over at point guard after Darius Morris left school early for the NBA following the 2010-11 campaign.

Burke led the Wolverines in both scoring (14.8 ppg) and assists (4.6 apg) and helped Michigan tie for the Big Ten regular-season championship.

With Burke (and Tim Hardaway Jr.) returning and an elite-level recruiting class arriving this fall, Michigan could become a top-10 team in 2012-13.

 

1. Cody Zeller (Indiana)

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Cody Zeller's game is not flash and sparkle, but quality and consistency.

The 6'11", 230-pound PF is a big reason that IU basketball is relevant again.

Zeller not only led the Hoosiers in scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounding (6.6 rpg), but he was the No. 14 shooter (62.6 percent) in the nation.

He scored in double figures in 33 of Indiana's 36 games.

If Zeller and his teammates (plus a soon-to-arrive elite recruiting class) elevate their game just a little this coming season, watch for the Hoosiers to make the school's ninth Final Four appearance.